Shaving apparatus



Dec. 14, 1943 H. SCHENK ETAL 2,336,806

sHA'vING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1940 &

MILIL.

Patented Dec. 14, 1943 nasce SHAVING APPARATUS Hans Schenk and Walter Sprung, Graz, Germany, assignors to Jacques Splty, Zurich,

Switzerland Application July 8', 1940, Serial No. 344,444 In Germany January 2, 1939 17 Claims.

The invention relates to a shaving apparatus to enable in a simple manner a considerable improvement of the shaving as regards rapidity and convenience. In the past the beard has been treated in a comparatively complicated manner by the application of liquid and soap and brushed or rubbed until the desired beard softening effect was attained. The shaving was then carried out in the usual manner.

The invention has for its object to simplify this procedure in that the shaving apparatus, that is a safety razor, is combined with a steam producer from which steam flows adjacent the blade of the razor, so that the portion of the skin in the path of the razor is subjected to a steam treatment before the razor blade comes into contact with the skin. No other preparatory treatment of the portion of the skin to be shaved is necessary. The invention is also applicable to ordinary razors. By the treatment with steam the hair is softened and the skin made more elastic, so that it becomes more supple and adapts itself well to the sharp cutting edge of the razor or blade, so that injuries are avoided. It is further no longer necessary to use shaving soap, so that the shaving is simplified considerably and on the other hand inconveniences, resulting from the prejudicial efect of the soap on the skin are avoided.

The steam producer may be combined with the r shaving apparatus to form one instrument or it may be arranged separately of the shaving apparatus and attached thereto.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows the application of the invention in the form of an attachment to an existing shaving apparatus in perspective view, partly in section.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective view a carrier plate fixed to the shaving apparatus.

Fig. 3 shows a modication having the steam producer combined with the shaving apparatus, partly in section on line III, III of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV, IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows on larger scale a detail of Figs. 3 and 4 concerning the safety valve.

Fi-g. 6 shows another form of construction of the shaving apparatus in cross section.

Fig. '7 shows the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 one half in elevation and the other half in longitudinal section.

Fig. 8 shows the steam producer for the shaving apparatus shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Like reference numerals in the various gures denote like parts.

The commonly used shaving apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 consists of a handle l, and a head part 2 which contains the razor blade. These two elements are screwed together in known manner,

A carrying plate 3 is clamped between the handle and head of the shaVin-g apparatus. This carrying plate 3 has at its end laterally extending arms 3', 3" engaging over a double nozzle 4. The two nozzles 4 are arranged in this manner on either side of the handle l and spray the steam fed to them below the head 2 onto the portion of the skin which is to be shaved. To

prevent water of condensa-tion, which might be carried along by the steam, from touching the skin denecting plates 3' extend from the carrier plate 3 into the path of the steam issuing from the nozzles 4. The steam is led to the nozzles 4 from a steam producer through a flexible tube 5 with which a separator I2 for the Water of condensation is connected, this separator consisting of a short tube l2 extending from an intermediate piece between hose 5 and the double nozzles 4, the open end of the short tube l2 being closed by a stopper I2' having in its circumference a longitudinal groove l2" through which the water of condensation can drain oi.

The boiler of the steam producer 6 is heated by an electric ring-shaped heater l to which current is fed from a wall socket 9 by a liexibie conductor 8. A spring closed safety valve I' is mounted on the boiler 6. The steam produced in the steam producer 6 flows through the hose to the nozzles 4 and through these nozzles, in striking against the deilecting plates 3', on opposite sides of the handle below the head 2 of the shaving apparatus impinges upon the portion of the skin which is to be shaved.

As shown in Figs. 3-5 the steam producer is mounted with the shaving apparatus to form a handy aggregate. In this instance the steam producer l is mounted heat insulated in the handle il of the shaving apparatus. The head 2 o the shaving apparatus, which carries the blade l5, is constructed as usual and its lower part i4 is connected with the handle li by a connecting piece consisting of two bows It?, preferably with interposition of an insulation. The handle Ii is hollow and subdivided into two compartments by a partition l l', the upper compartment serving as boiler for producing steam. In this upper compartment a heating coil I l is mounted and a steam pipe 25 extends from the centre of the chamber through the upper wall Il into the openings formed between the bows lla' below the head 2 of the shaving apparatus. A nozzle l is mounted on the end of tube 25 to discharge the steam at the side of the head part 2 (Fig. 3). The nozzle is turnably mounted on tube 25 so that, if desired, it can be turned by 186 so that the steam jet may be selectively used on the let side or on the right side of blade l5, according to whether the one or the other knife edge of the blade l5 is used for shaving. The ejected steam strikes upon the portion of the skin to be shaved and softens the skin and the hair so that shaving can be carried out without other preparation. The steam temperature can be regulated by using a longer or shorter nozzle or by making the nozzle mountings wider or narrower. It is evident that instead of the nozzle shown on the drawing any other suitable nozzle may be used.

The electric energy is fed to the heating coil f) l'l through a preferably flexible electric ,conductor il. The heating may be eiectedin another way, for instance by means of Van electric heatingring i as shown in Fig. 1. v

The water is introduced into the chamber ll through the open end 2d of tube 22 Vwhich tube is normally closed relative to the steam boiler by a valve 23, the screw cap valve shaft 25 of which is moved upwards or downwards by turning a screw cap 2B on the shaft and the valve 23 is .7. thereby opened or closed. The water can now out through the open end 2li when the valve E3 is open upon inverting the handle.

Only one half of the boiler is nlled with water so that no waterv flowsV into the steam conduit 25 in whatever, position the apparatus may be held. A safety valve 2l, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided through which, for instance when the nozzle i8 should beclogged, the under excess pressure steam can escape from the middle of the boiler. The safety valve 2l is accommodated the valve body 23 and communicates with the atmosphere through the hollow shaft 25.

After water has been introduced into the boiler through the aperture 2,4 and the tube 22, while the valveA Z3 is open, this valve is closed. The safety razor isA then ready for use. After the electric conductorA 8 has been plugged to a source of current, the water is evaporated by the heating spiral Il, the steam produced can esl' cape selectively through tube 25A and nozzle` i8 to the left or right side of the razor blade. The shaving is carried out in the usual manner without any preparation being necessary, such as treatment of the skin with hot cloths, soap and f the like.

According to Figures 6 to 8 the steamV producer E, shown in Fig. 8, is separate from the safety razor and connected with the same by a flexible tube 32. The electric plug contact for connecting With the main line for admission of electric energy to the steam producer is designated by 28'. The heating of the steam producer may be effected in some other manner, for instance by gas, gaseous or liquid fuel or the like.

The steam produced in the container t ows through pipe 32 and the handle l ofthe safety razor through the intermediary of a three-way cock 39 intoV the two chambers forming the lower part of the head 2 of the safety razor. The chambers 28 are separated the one from the other. Each chamber 23 is subdivided by baffles 2d so that between these bales a serpentine passage is formed through which the steam can flow before it iiows out through the nozzle-like openings t3 in the outer walls of the chamber 2d. The steam pressure is thus reduced and the steam temperature lowered to such a degree that the skin is not endangered. The steam can be conducted as desired by means of the three-Way cock to the one or other of the chambers through the conduit 3ft or 35, so that it flows out underneath the one or other of the cutting edges of blade I5. An indentation El' of the chambers extending in the longitudinal direction serves for with inserts of asbestos or of other heat insulating material in order to exclude the danger of burning when the apparatus touches the skin.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle construction of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent yits best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope o the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as speeically'illustrated and described.

We claim:

l. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on said handle, a blade in said head part, a steam producer separate from said handle and head part, double nozzles removably mounted on said handle and head part on either side of the handle, the said nozzles having their discharge orices spaced laterally from the shaving edge of the said blade and a flexible conduit connecting said steam producer with said double nozzles.

2. A shaving apparatus vcomprising in combination a handle, a head part on said handle, a blade in said head part, a steam producer separate from the said handle and head part, double nozzles removably fixed' on said handle and head part and extending on either side of said handle, baille plates in front or the mouths of said double nozzles against which steam discharged from said nozzles strikes before reaching the skin to be shaved, and a iexible conduit connecting said steam producer and said double nozzles.

3. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on said handle, a blade said head part, a steam producer separate from said handle and head part but cooperating with the same, double nozzles removably mounted on said handle and head part, said nozzles extending to either side of said handle and having their discharge orirces laterally spaced from the shaving edge of the said blade, a iieXible tube connecting said steam producer with said double nozzles, and a separator for water of condensation on said flexible tube.

4. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part removably screwed on said handle, a bladeV in said head part, a carrier plate clamped between said handle VandY said head part, double nozzles'xed on said carrier, said nozzles extendingY to either sideA of `said handle and having their discharge orifices llaterally spaced from the shaving edge ofthe-'said blade by a distance not less than theY 4width of the said blade, a steam` producer, and a flexible connection between said steam producerand said double nozzles.

5. A shaving apparatuscomprising in combination a handle, head part on said handle,`a

blade in said head part, a steam producer in said handle, and means on said steam producer for discharging the steam near and towards the shaving edge of the said blade so that finely atomised hot water forming from said steam is sprayed upon the skin to be shaved.

6. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a water container in said handle, a head part on said handle, a blade in said head part, a connecting piece connecting said handle with said head part and having openings located between said water container and said head part and below said blade, a heating device for heating the water in said container, a nozzle in said handle, said nozzle being spaced from the cutting edge of the said blade and in such position that the steam flowing out of said nozzle is discharged through said openings towards the said blade edges, a tube extending from said container and terminating in said nozzle, and a valve in said container for iilling Water into the container and for removing water from the container.

'7. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a water container in said handle, a head part on said handle, a blade in said head part, a connecting piece between said handle and said head part and having openings located be tween said water container and said head part and below the cutting edges of said blade, a heating device for said water container, a nozzle in said handle, said nozzle being spaced from the cutting edges of said blade but being mounted so that steam discharged from said nozzle passes through one of said openings and nally ows, in the form of hot water vapour to near the edges of said blade, a tubular conduit extending from the said water container to said nozzle, a valve in said container for filling the container with water and for removing the water, and an over-pressure valve for the steam produced in said container.

8. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on said handle, a blade in said head part, a water container in said handle, a heating device for the water in said water container, a connecting piece connecting said handle with said head part and having openings located between said water container and said handle and below the cutting edges of said blade, a nozzle in said handle and arranged in the central axis of the apparatus and having an inclined upwardly directed mouth spaced from the cutting edges of the said blade, a tubular conduit extending from the middle of the water container to said nozzle, which is screwed on said tube so that the nozzle mouth may be selectively directed towards the one or the other of the two cutting edges of said blade, and a valve in said container for lling water into and removing it from said container.

9. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part, a blade in said head part, a water container in said handle, a heating device for said water container, a connecting piece between said handle and said head part having openings located between said water container and said head part and below the cutting edges of said blade, a nozzle arranged in the handle in the central axis of the apparatus the mouth of said nozzle being directed obliquely upwards and spaced from both of said cutting.

edges, a flexible tube extending from the middle of said water container to said nozzle, said nozzle being turnable relative to said tube in order to be directed towards the one or other of the blade cutting edges, a control valve in said container for filling the container with water and for removing the water, and a safety valve, actuated by pressure above atmospheric, disposed in the body of said control valve and communicating on the one hand with the steam space of the water container and on the other hand with the atmosphere by means of a bore in the shaft or said control valve.

10. A shaving apparatus comprising in combi nation a handle, a head part on said handle composed of a top part and of a hollow bottom part, a blade clamped between said top part and said hollow bottom part which has nozzle-shaped openings in its side walls below the cutting edges of said blade, and a steam producer discharging steam into said hollow bottom part at a position spaced from the said discharge nozzles.

1l. A shaving apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on said handle and composed of a hollow bottom part carrying the blade and of a top part pressing said blade onto said bottom part which has nozzle-shaped openings in its side walls under the blade edges, a steam producer, steam discharge means at the junction of said handle and said hollow bottom part, means for feeding steam from said steam producer to said steam discharge means, a partition in the middle of said hollow bottom part subdividing it into two compartments, steam conduits extending from said steam discharge means to the said nozzle-shaped openings, and baffles in said conduits forming a serpentine path for the steam passing towards the said nozzle-like openings.

12. A shaving apparatus as specified in claim 1l comprising in combination with the said handle and the said steam discharging means, a three-Way cock connecting said steam discharge means with said serpentine conduits.

13. Apparatus for shaving human beings, such apparatus comprising a cutting blade, means for generating steam, conduit means for conveying the generated steam to discharging means so spaced from the cutting edge of the blade as to ensure that in travelling from the discharging means to the skin to be shaved, the steam will acquire the form of finely atomised hot water at a temperature not likely to harm the skin.

14. Apparatus for shaving human beings, such apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on the handle, a blade in said head part, a steam generator cooperating with said head part, and means for discharging the steam formed in said steam generator towards that edge of the blade to be used in the shaving operation, the said discharging means being laterally spaced from said cutting edge.

15. A safety razor for shaving human beings, such apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on the handle, a blade in said head part, a steam generator cooperating with said head part, and means for discharging the steam formed in said steam generator towards that edge of the blade to be used in the shaving operation, the said discharging means being laterally spaced from the said cutting edge by a distance exceeding half the width of the said blade.

16. A safety razor for shaving human beings, such apparatus comprising in combination a handle, a head part on the handle, a blade in said head part, a steam generator co-operating with said head part, means for discharging the steam formed in said steam generator towards erator separated from said shaving apparatus but (3o-operating with the same, discharge means disposed adjacent said head part, and conduit means connected to said steam generator for conducting the steam from the steam generator to said discharge means, said discharge means being adapted to discharge the steam towards the shaving edge of the said blade but being spaced from said shaving edge.

HANS SCHENK.

WALTER SPRUNG. 

